Sep 9
Where was the 1944 liberation of Paris decided?
The crucial decision to launch the liberation of Paris in 1944 was made at the Château du Bois-Gamats, just south of Laval on the banks of the Mayenne river in western France. Here, on 22 August 1944, General Philippe Leclerc received the long-awaited order from General Omar Bradley to lead his 2ème Division Blindée toward the French capital, shifting the course of the war in France. The château, which had served as a German headquarters until its liberation earlier that month, stands out as the very place where Paris's fate was sealed—today, a special milestone marker at its entrance commemorates this pivotal moment. This commemorative marker is one of the many “Bornes” along the historic 2nd Armoured Division Road, a route stretching over 1,145 kilometers and symbolizing the Allied advance from Normandy to the liberation of Western Europe.
